LEXINGTON, Ky. — The religious holiday Ramadan is now underway and University of Kentucky’s Muslim Student Association is celebrating 50 years on campus with an Islamic Awareness Week. 

What You Need To Know

  • The University of Kentucky’s Muslim Student Association turns 50 years old during April 2022

  • Zaib Amatullah serves as the campus outreach chair for MSA

  • Khadijah Ahmad serves as a board member of MSA

  • MSA has nearly 100 active students in the organization and 300 alumni

The University of Kentucky's MSA students hosted events about wearing hijabs and informing students about the Islamic religion.

Zaib Amatullah serves as MSA’s campus outreach chair, the person in charge of putting together a week of events with nearly 100 other MSA students and thousands of students on UK’s campus. Khadijah Ahmad is one of the many students who serves as an MSA board member.

University of Kentucky Muslim Student Association members stand together after discussing misconceptions about the hijab. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)
University of Kentucky Muslim Student Association members stand together after discussing misconceptions about the hijab. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

“I think for so long I felt like I kinda had to blend in because I didn’t want to make people uncomfortable and this week has shown me no–we need to allow ourselves to be seen,” Ahmad said.

Ahmad and Amatullah are UK sophomores who have been hijabees since the seventh grade. Ahmad is a Lexington native with Palestinian roots, while Amatullah is a Louisville native with Indian roots.

Amatullah said she’s endured passive aggressive behavior in response to her appearance, but her younger sister has endured physical and verbal altercations because of wearing a hijab.

“Nothing direct to me. My sister unfortunately this year she had to go through a lot of stuff. She was in eighth grade and went to the same middle school as me, but it degraded. She got harassed and would pull her hijab and say 9/11. It was really bad,” Amatullah said.

The pair teamed up with over 100 MSA members for a week of events geared to inform their campus, which included a hijab giveaway and try on event and an open discussion about Muslim stereotypes they face while wearing the hijab and practicing Islam. Ahmad and Amatullah say they just want people to take the time to listen before judging.

“I want people to be comfortable coming up to me and I don’t want my hijab to be a barrier to meeting new people and achieving new things,” Ahmad said.

MSA will kick off their 50th Anniversary Banquet on April 16 at the Gatton Student Center Grand Ballroom.

The event is open to community members and students and registration will close Monday, April 4 on their Instagram.